Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| сон | son | [sɔn] (narrow) | masculine |
| сновиді́ння | snovydínnja | neuter |
The primary translation for the imaginary events seen while sleeping is сон. This word is versatile and is used to refer both to the specific content of a dream and to the state of sleep itself. If you want to describe dreaming as an ambition or a hope (to dream of something), you should use the verbs мріяти, ма́рити or мрі́ти. To describe the specific act of seeing visions while sleeping, the verb сни́тися is used.
Which one should you use?
сон is the everyday, common word used for a dream and also means 'sleep'. In contrast, сновидіння specifically refers to the visions or imagery experienced during sleep and is used in more formal or literary contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that you 'had a dream', Ukrainian speakers typically use the reflexive verb сни́тися, which functions as 'to be dreamed to someone', rather than using a direct transitive verb.
How do you pronounce it?
son
Did you know?
- In Ukrainian folklore, certain dreams are categorized as сон-передвісник, which are believed to be prophetic warnings rather than mere imagination.
- The word сон is a cognate of the English word 'supine', as both derive from a root meaning 'to lie down' or 'to sleep'.
- Because сон means both 'dream' and 'sleep', Ukrainian speakers use the phrase солодких снів to wish someone 'sweet dreams' and a good night's sleep simultaneously.
Examples in context
- Це не був сон.That wasn't a dream.This sentence is useful for using the word сон to negate a past experience.Tatoeba #5948394 by deniko, translation #5944711 by Hybrid
- Це був лише сон?Was it just a dream?This sentence is useful for asking a question about whether an experience was a сон.Tatoeba #8837443 by deniko, translation #6759896 by Micsmithel
- Усе – тільки сон.Everything is but a dream.This sentence is useful for expressing a poetic thought using сон.Tatoeba #893068 by shanghainese, translation #892713 by Scott
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is talking in bed in the morning.
- Олександр OleksandrНаталіє, тобі снилося щось цікаве?Nataliye, tobi slylosya shchos tsikave?Nataliia, did you dream of anything interesting?
- Наталія NataliiaТак, мені снився дуже гарний сон.Tak, meni slyvsya duzhe harnyy son.Yes, I had a very beautiful dream.
- Олександр OleksandrРозкажи мені, будь ласка, про цей сон.Rozkazhy meni, bud laska, pro tsey son.Tell me about this dream, please.
- Наталія NataliiaОлександре, це було надто дивно.Oleksandre, tse bulo nadto dyvno.Oleksander, it was too strange.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dream” translations and entries сон, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries сон, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
